Prickly Pear Cactus Growing Guide

Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia humifusa

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Tropical prickly pear cannot tolerate freezing weather. Hardy prickly pear tolerates winter cold to -34°C (-30°F).

Feeding

None needed.

Spacing

Single Plants: 60cm (1' 11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 60cm (1' 11") with 60cm (1' 11") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Prickly pear cactus can be started from seed, but it takes three years for seedlings to reach maturity. Instead, start with a container-grown plant, or root a pad shared by a friend. Allow the cut pad to heal for at least a week before setting it in sandy, well-drained soil. Spring to early summer are the best seasons for planting prickly pear cactus. Young plants need water their first year, but after that prickly pear is very drought tolerant.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Wear thick gloves when handling this plant. When transplanting, it helps to wrap the plant in paper to reduce injury to you and the cactus. Tropical prickly pear grows into a huge plant, bearing flowers that many be white, yellow, or red. Hardy prickly pear blooms yellow in summer. The young pads of all species are edible. Hardy prickly pear is a native American plant. It is an outstanding choice for dry, rocky places that bake in the sun. Please note: The spiny form of O. ficus-indica is a category 1 weed in South Africa, which neccesitates its control, or removal and destruction. No trade or planting of the spiny variety is allowed, with the exception of fruit if used for human consumption. However, all spineless cultivars and selections (commonly known as Cactus Pear) are exempt from this legislation, and may be cultivated.

Harvesting

Gather young pads for eating in early summer. Fruit is harvested from December to April.The fruit is covered in clusters of minuscule splinters, which painfully stick into skin and are difficult to see and remove. Don’t use gloves to harvest the fruit, as the insidious spines stick to hem, waiting to attack you next time you put them on. Rather use tongs, but be gentle as the fruit bruises easily when ripe. To peel, hold the fruit with a fork and chop off the top and bottom with a sharp knife. Slice the skin open down one side and use the knife to open and peel the skin off, rolling the fruit out with a fork.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Prickly Pear Cactus

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail